MSC 97/22/Add.

1
Annex 8, page 1

ANNEX 8

RESOLUTION MSC.416(97)
(adopted on 25 November 2016)

AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON

STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING
FOR SEAFARERS (STCW), 1978, AS AMENDED

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization

concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO Article XII of the International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 ("the Convention"), concerning the
procedures for amending the Convention,

RECALLING FURTHER that the Committee, by resolution MSC.386(94), adopted, inter alia, the
new chapter XIV of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974,
as amended,

ALSO RECALLING that the Committee, by resolution MSC.385(94), adopted the International
Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), which will take effect on 1 January 2017
upon entry into force of the new chapter XIV of the SOLAS Convention,

NOTING that there will be a transitional period between the entry into force of the Polar Code
and the amendments to the STCW Convention, and that section B-V/g of the STCW Code
provides guidance regarding the training of masters and officers for ships operating in polar
waters which should be applied by Administrations during the transitional period,

ALSO RECALLING that the Committee, at its ninety-sixth session, decided to provide the
Member States with a single resolution of amendments to the Convention, including those
related to the Polar Code and to passenger ship-specific training and certification,

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its ninety-seventh session, amendments to the Convention

proposed and circulated in accordance with Article XII(1)(a)(i) thereof,

1 ADOPTS, in accordance with Article XII(1)(a)(iv) of the Convention, amendments to

the Convention, the text of which is set out in the annex to the present resolution;

2 DETERMINES, in accordance with Article XII(1)(a)(vii)(2) of the Convention, that the

said amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 January 2018, unless, prior to
that date, more than one third of Parties or Parties the combined merchant fleets of which
constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping of ships
of 100 gross register tons or more, have notified the Secretary-General of the Organization of
their objections to the amendments;

3 INVITES Parties to note that, in accordance with Article XII(1)(a)(ix) of the Convention,
that the amendments annexed hereto shall enter into force on 1 July 2018 upon their
acceptance, in accordance with paragraph 2 above;

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4 URGES Parties to implement the amendments to regulation I/1.1, regulation I/11 and
regulation V/4 at an early stage;

5 INVITES Parties to recognize seafarers' certificates issued by a Party at an early

stage, in accordance with paragraph 4 above, and prior to the entry into force of amendments
to regulation V/4;

6 REQUESTS the Secretary-General, for the purposes of Article XII(1)(a)(v) of the

Convention, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the
amendments contained in the annex to all Parties to the Convention;

7 REQUESTS ALSO the Secretary-General to transmit copies of this resolution and its
annex to Members of the Organization, which are not Parties to the Convention.

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ANNEX

AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS

OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR
SEAFARERS (STCW), 1978, AS AMENDED

CHAPTER I

General provisions

1 In regulation I/1.1, the following new definitions are added:

".42 Polar Code means the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar
Waters, as defined in SOLAS regulation XIV/1.1.

.43 Polar waters means Arctic waters and/or the Antarctic area, as defined in
SOLAS regulations XIV/1.2 to XIV/1.4."

2 In regulation I/11, after the existing paragraph 3, the following new paragraph is
inserted and the subsequent paragraphs are renumbered accordingly:

"4 Every master or officer shall, for continuing seagoing service on board ships
operating in polar waters, meet the requirements of paragraph 1 of this regulation and
be required, at intervals not exceeding five years, to establish continued professional
competence for ships operating in polar waters in accordance with section A-1/11,
paragraph 4 of the STCW Code."

CHAPTER V

Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships

3 In chapter V, the existing regulation V/2 is replaced by the following:

"Regulation V/2

Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of masters,

officers, ratings and other personnel on passenger ships

1 This regulation applies to masters, officers, ratings and other personnel

serving on board passenger ships engaged on international voyages. Administrations
shall determine the applicability of these requirements to personnel serving on
passenger ships engaged on domestic voyages.

2 Before being assigned shipboard duties, all persons serving on a passenger

ship shall meet the requirements of section A-VI/1, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

3 Masters, officers, ratings and other personnel serving on board passenger

ships shall complete the training and familiarization required by paragraphs 5 to 9
below, in accordance with their capacity, duties and responsibilities.

4 Masters, officers, ratings and other personnel, who are required to be trained
in accordance with paragraphs 7 to 9 below shall, at intervals not exceeding five
years, undertake appropriate refresher training or be required to provide evidence of
having achieved the required standard of competence within the previous five years.

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5 Personnel serving on board passenger ships shall complete passenger ship

emergency familiarization appropriate to their capacity, duties and responsibilities as
specified in section A-V/2, paragraph 1 of the STCW Code.

6 Personnel providing direct service to passengers in passenger spaces on

board passenger ships shall complete the safety training specified in section A-V/2,
paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

7 Masters, officers, ratings qualified in accordance with chapters II, III and VII
and other personnel designated on the muster list to assist passengers in emergency
situations on board passenger ships, shall complete passenger ship crowd
management training as specified in section A-V/2, paragraph 3 of the STCW Code.

8 Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and
any person designated on the muster list of having responsibility for the safety of
passengers in emergency situations on board passenger ships shall complete
approved training in crisis management and human behaviour as specified in
section A-V/2, paragraph 4 of the STCW Code.

9 Masters, chief engineer officers, chief mates, second engineer officers and
every person assigned immediate responsibility for embarking and disembarking
passengers, for loading, discharging or securing cargo, or for closing hull openings
on board ro-ro passenger ships, shall complete approved training in passenger safety,
cargo safety and hull integrity as specified in section A-V/2, paragraph 5 of the
STCW Code.

10 Administrations shall ensure that documentary evidence of the training which

has been completed is issued to every person found qualified in accordance with
paragraphs 6 to 9 of this regulation. "

4 In chapter V, the following new regulation is added:

"Regulation V/4

Mandatory minimum requirements for the training and qualifications of masters and
deck officers on ships operating in polar waters

1 Masters, chief mates and officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships

operating in polar waters shall hold a certificate in basic training for ships operating in
polar waters, as required by the Polar Code.

2 Every candidate for a certificate in basic training for ships operating in polar
waters shall have completed an approved basic training for ships operating in polar
waters and meet the standard of competence specified in section A-V/4, paragraph 1,
of the STCW Code.

3 Masters and chief mates on ships operating in polar waters, shall hold a
certificate in advanced training for ships operating in polar waters, as required by the
Polar Code.

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4 Every candidate for a certificate in advanced training for ships operating in

polar waters shall:

.1 meet the requirements for certification in basic training for ships in

polar waters;

.2 have at least two (2) months of approved seagoing service in the

deck department, at management level or while performing
watchkeeping duties at the operational level, within polar waters or
other equivalent approved seagoing service; and

.3 have completed approved advanced training for ships operating

in polar waters and meet the standard of competence specified in
section A-V/4, paragraph 2 of the STCW Code.

5 Administrations shall ensure that a Certificate of Proficiency is issued to

seafarers who are qualified in accordance with paragraphs 2 or 4, as appropriate.

Transitional provisions

6 Until 1 July 2020, seafarers who commenced approved seagoing service in

polar waters prior to 1 July 2018 shall be able to establish that they meet the
requirements of paragraph 2 by:

.1 having completed approved seagoing service on board a ship

operating in polar waters or equivalent approved seagoing service,
performing duties in the deck department at the operational or
management level, for a period of at least three months in total
during the preceding five years; or

.2 having successfully completed a training course meeting the

training guidance established by the Organization for ships
operating in polar waters.*

7 Until 1 July 2020, seafarers who commenced approved seagoing service in

polar waters prior to 1 July 2018 shall be able to establish that they meet the
requirements of paragraph 4 by:

.1 having completed approved seagoing service on board a ship

operating in polar waters or equivalent approved seagoing service,
performing duties in the deck department at management level, for
a period of at least three months in total during the preceding five
years; or
.2 having successfully completed a training course meeting the
training guidance established by the Organization for ships
operating in polar waters* and having completed approved seagoing
service on board a ship operating in polar waters or equivalent
approved seagoing service, performing duties in the deck
department at the management level, for a period of at least
two months in total during the preceding five years."
***

*
Refer to section B-V/g of the STCW Code.

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